We've seen some great runs in the past. Villanova is the lowest seed to ever win a title, winning in 1983 as an eight seed. UMBC is the only sixteen seed to ever beat a one seed, when they beat Virginia a few years back. We had Florida Gulf Coast crashing the sweet sixteen, also as a fifteen seed. This is the furthest that a #15 seed has ever gotten in this dance.
But what St Peter's is doing is different. They finished the year 22-11, losing six games in conference and finishing second during the regular season in MAAC. But they got hot at the right time. They haven't lost a game since February 20th. Its now a ten game winning streak heading into their elite eight matchup with North Carolina.
Just to help put into perspective how amazing this run has become. There are 358 Division I schools that play Men's Basketball and could participate in this tournament. During the season, St Peter's ranked 273rd in free-throw percentage and 317th in 2-point field goal percentage. And in the tournament, they were 13 point underdogs against Purdue, who they just beat to advance to the Elite Eight.
This is nothing new for St Peters, playing the role of underdog. They've been doing it all tournament long and they are going to keep going with it now. Difference with this game, against North Carolina on Sunday, is that the Tar Heels are an eight seed. The lowest seed that the Peacocks have played all tournament. They are playing clutch defense and hitting clutch shots all tournament long. Nobody expected this and it really has been a great sight for fans to watch.
Will it keep going? How knows. But has it been fun to watch? Hell yes
They don't call this March Madness for nothing.
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